Meet Josh Stotler | Luthier & Owner of Oak Creek Guitars

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh Stotler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I made my first guitar when I was in High School. I worked on guitars and built a few of my own in the years after I graduated. I lived in Germany for five years and was able to volunteer at the wood shop on the Wiesbaden Army Airfield. In doing so, I was able to repair many guitars and really learn about guitar building, or Luthiery. Building guitars is something that I have loved since I built my first in 1995. I started Oak Creek Guitars in 2013, as a side business. I only recently started building and repairing guitars full time. It was a huge leap to venture out on my own as a business, but I’m so happy to be doing what I love every day. My love of musical instruments and my skills as a Luthier are what puts my shop at the top of the list when it comes to repairs, restorations and custom work. I see my business steadily growing and it makes me happy to know that 14 year old kid who built a guitar in a shed is now a sought after craftsman with a waiting list of people who want work done. Its been a long slow climb but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I specialize in one of a kind themed instruments. I started this because the San Diego County Fair has a unique theme every year, they also hold the largest juried woodworking competition on the West Coast. When it’s Fair time, the theme is released and I get to work creating a guitar that fits that theme. Over the last 10 years, I have made guitars with themes such as: Monopoly, Alice in Wonderland, The Beatles, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory and The Wizard of Oz, just to name a few. I have also built a hand full of space themed guitars and most recently, a very special ukulele as a birthday present to Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise, a gift from his granddaughter. I would say what sets me apart from other builders is my level of detail. For example, my Apollo themed guitar, one of which resides in the San Diego Air & Space museum, has over 1,300 individual pieces of inlay, some of which have actually flown in space. Most of my builds have a large mural inlay on the back and that’s something you just don’t see in instruments. I go for the “wow” factor and even though my guitars can be viewed as art, they are first and foremost musical instruments and I encourage people to play them whenever I can.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in San Diego, we certainly don’t have a lack of great food, great weather and great entertainment. Being a San Diego native, I’m quite familiar with the city (and county) and love giving advice on what to see and do. I like to learn, so my recommendations usually involve some of our world class museums, like the San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Maritime Museum and the USS Midway. You can’t miss if you go to Balboa Park, where you can stroll through beautifully manicured gardens, eat fantastic food and visit many of the museums all in one convenient spot. A must for any visit is the San Diego Zoo and Sea World. If you like the Beach, we have a few of those. Ride the Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park or watch the hang gliders at Torrey Pines. If you’re an outdoorsy type, head to the mountains and go for a hike or head out to Julian for a mine tour and some delicious pie. I could go on and on. I won’t even start on the food, let’s just say there is something for everyone and a lot of it is top notch. even if you do stay a week, there will still be a lot to do on your next visit, so please come back. (If you do go to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, don’t forget to check out “Eagle” my Apollo themed guitar located in the “Space: Our Greatest Adventure” gallery.)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife Bobbie is my everything. She is my quality control lady, promoter, proof reader, sounding board and all around go to person for anything I need a second pair of eyes on. I absolutely wouldn’t be the Luthier I am today without her love and support. Second, my mother-in-law, Bea who is supportive, loving and generously provides me with shop space. Id also like to thank my customers who keep coming back to this little one man shop. Return business is the barometer that lets me know I’m doing something right. So, for all of you who support Oak Creek Guitars, thank you.

Website: www.OakCreekGuitars.com

Instagram: @Oak_Creek_Guitars